Counting Blessings by Mary Simonsen
Happy New Year!
Sharon Lathan, one of our fearless leaders, does all the scheduling for Austen Authors. In addition to scheduling monthly posts for twenty-one writers, there are also book launches and the various blog anniversaries to set up. Trust me. It’s a lot of work. Usually, the date I get is the date I get, and it always works out. But I was particularly pleased when I found that my post was scheduled for my granddaughter’s ninth birthday.
Prior to the arrival of my two-year old grandson, Kaelyn was my only grandchild. I was there when she was born. She lived with me until she was a year old. Meg, Kaelyn, and I drove to Texas from Arizona to visit my sisters when she was just a toddler so that we could show her off to the family. My husband and I took her to Disneyland, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, and a safari park. We helped her build her first snowman, which is an experience for a child living in the desert part of Arizona. When I threw a snowball at her, she put her hands on her hips and told me, “Grandma, That was rude!” She spends half her summer in our pool. Kaelyn and Skyler are my heart’s delight.
The end of one year and the start of another is the perfect time to count one’s blessings, and so here are mine: My husband Paul, who keeps the heart rate up even after 36 years of marriage, my daughters Meg and Kate, two delightful girls who became caring women, my son-in-law Brian, who loves Meg and their children and is terrific to his in-laws, my four surviving sisters, who are rock solid, and always there when I need them, my church, my friends, my internet friends, and my readers. Thanks for the memories. I look forward to more. Happy New Year!
What are your blessings? I hope you will share.
Now for a little business:
Sourcebooks has been having a promotion called the “Twelve Days After Christmas” in which eBook titles go on sale for one day only for .99. Today is the tenth day. We are not supposed to reveal anything about the promo until the day scheduled. However, I will tell you that eleven (as in the Eleventh Day of Christmas) is my lucky number, and that tomorrow, I’ll be checking my sales stats for The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy. 
Sharon, Abigail, among others, are also Sourcebooks authors, so check the Austen Authors Facebook page for more information. I hope I don’t get called into the office.
Today is the last day of the “Fill up your Kindle/Nook” sale. Lots of wonderful titles from six Austen Authors. Check out the list here.
I have posted two parodies on The Writer’s Block. Because nothing is out of bounds, I really, really enjoy writing parodies. So if you are in need of a laugh, I hope you will read Anne Elliot, A New Beginning and Elinor and Edward’s Plans for Lucy Steele. Lots of good stuff on the site from many of your favorite Austen Authors. There is a tab for The Writer’s Block at the top of the page.
Mary Simonsen
Mary Simonsen is the author of several Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen re-imaginings. She is also the author of two British police procedurals, A Killing in Kensington and Three's a Crowd.
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36 Responses to Counting Blessings by Mary Simonsen
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Oh I love thinking about my blessings and I have that old White Christmas song running through my head right now as I do. I have a sweet husband, all my basic needs and many wants are met, loving brother, parents and many in laws, steady jobs and sturdy health, friends, church friends, and internet buddies too. There is so much, see?
I’m signed up for that Sourcebooks promo so now I’m eager for lucky eleven.
Thanks for the post!
Hi Sophia Rose. It is hard to get White Christmas out of your head. Maybe by Valentine’s Day.
Blessings? Too many to count, but lets start with my husband, 2 wonderful boys (just turning 18 and 21…yikes), large extended family, friends, health, stable jobs, home, internet friends and books!
I knew there had to be some Jane Austen in the Twelve Days after Christmas. I love a good sale! (and there have been many lately..found a few of yours in the ‘fill your kindle’ sale I had to have.) I eagerly await my eleventh email!
Hi Becky. Yes, I agree, too many to count. There are times when I need to remind myself of that.
We do something at the dinner table each night called ’3 good things and one bad thing.’ Each of us takes turns telling 3 good things and one bad thing that happened to us that day. It teaches the kids that it is normal that bad things happen to us, and if we look hard, the good stuff will always outnumber the bad. Turns out, I get more out of it than they do!
3G1B – Austen Authors
1. I get to be a part of this amazing community or readers, writers, and bloggers who are supportive and amazing people.
2. I’ve found out that there is more to JA than Pride and Prejudice.
3. These great people inspire me to take creative chances in my own life!
1. I’ll have to read 24/7 for the next 6 months just to catch up on all of the books I have in my Kindle app!
Angie, I agree wholeheartedly. If it weren’t for dear Jane, I would not have met you. That would have been my loss.
I did something similar when my kids were little, and we go around and around the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas giving thanks. My granddaughter loves it.
It was nice to read all of your blessings and your thankfulness for them. I have a granddaughter who has a birthday today also. It is her very first birthday and I am thankful for her. I have four lovely grandchildren in all, two girls and two boys that range in age from 1 to 16. They are the joy of my life. I have one son who has always been the light in my life. I am thankful for my siblings and all their sweet children. This past year I have made many JA friends and acquaintances through the various blogs. It has been wonderful to meet so many people with this same love and obsession for all things Jane Austen. It just seems that everyone is so nice even if we have only meet through emails and blogs. It has been a blessing in my life and I thank you all.
I love Angie’s idea. That would be a good thing for any of us.
Thanks, Austen Authors, and thank you, Mary. Your post was inspiring.
Thank you, Janet, for sharing. Happy New Year!
How lovely! I love an ebook bargain, it means you can buy all the more, although I don’t think sourcebooks is running the promotion here in the UK.
I think it’s the time of year to be reflecting on how fortunate you are, I’ve just had a lovely Christmas with my wonderful husband and children and although there are things in my life I’d like to change there is SO much more that I wouldn’t. Hope you all have a happy and healthy 2013
Happy New Year to you as well. Thanks for your support.
After almost a year without work, we are starting the New Year off with a new job! That is a huge blessing! Even though 2012 was a rough year I still had so many blessings with my husband, my kids, and many friends! I love that even though we moved to a new state, I still have all my Austen friends with me! Thank you!
You certainly had your challenges in 2012. I hope 2013 brings joy, health, and happiness. I’d love to see you.
Oh, so many blessings… my husband, my two wonderful daughters (5 and 3) who keep me on my toes, a roof over my head, food on the table, and Jane Austen.
Life is good.
And thank you for pointing me to your parodies over at the Writer’s Block. I have the book, and have read the story several times, but I still dove right in to Anne Elliot this morning from your link. Teeheehee. I just love Anne Elliot, marathoner and brown skinned goddess.
Happy new year to you Mary. Wishing you an excellent 2013.
I am so glad you enjoyed Anne Elliot. I was getting so many negative reviews b/c people didn’t get the joke that I finally took it off sale and put it on The Writer’s Block. I appreciate your comments.
I have a lot to be thankful for. I have an amazing husband, a fabulous job, I FINALLY got into University and I’m so so blessed. I also am thankful for a new Nook Tablet (to replace the first edition one I’ve had for a few years) and a new Keurig coffee maker. These two items provide me with Austen and coffee which sustain my day to day existance.
I got all excited when I saw the “fill your kindle” sale. I went and looked and I had all of them already
yup, I have a serious problem. I’m also thankful for all of you who help me manage my addiction to Austen in a world where no one around me knows what I’m talking about. 
Happy 2013! *raising a glass*
Sounds like you are good to go for 2013. Yes, JA is an addiction, but at least we don’t smoke or chew.
I’ve been superstitiously afraid to count blessings this year since I’ve had so many, ranging from my wonderful family to my career change, the incredible privilege of being a full-time writer, and an adorable puppy to crown it all off. And I’m looking forward to your lucky day tomorrow, Mary, when I’ll be watching the sales figures on Mr. Darcy’s Obsession. Now I can keep you company when you’re called to the office.
I never could keep a secret.
Lovely post, Mary! There are so many things to be thankful for; I will keep my list short. I’m thankful for this new bundle of joy that will be blessing my family in just a few short weeks! =)
I love the picture of Kaelyn & Skyler!
I hope this year brings you just as many blessings as the last!
Jakki, You have a real blessing coming up to add to your family. Because I am not pregnant, I can tell you that your due date will be here before you know. it. Mary
Wonderful thoughts about blessings, and a very Happy Birthday to your granddaugter, Mary!
Thanks, Vera. My husband and I took Kaelyn out to lunch. She’ll have a trail ride party when the weather gets a little warmer. We are major wusses here in AZ.
They are precious, Mary! My grandparents used to live in Tucson, and I visited every year. Now only one grandmother is left, and she is here in Houston. I miss my visits to Arizona!
Thanks for stopping by, Alyssa.
I mentioned the list on AHA for you ladies. And I purchased the few titles I was missing, and I’ll admit to picking up a few in ebook format that I already have in paperback. Thanks for the heads up about the sale.
Thanks, Colleen, for the mention and for your support.
Happy New Year! It’s good to hear how your family is doing, Mary.
What am I thankful for? Let’s see… good health, my parents, church friends, other friends, Austenesque authors for continuing to release new books, Internet buddies and so many more that I don’t remember all of them.
Happy New Year! Hope you have a prosperous one!
I am thankful you included the links to your Anne Elliot story. I happen to have just finished re-reading Pesuasion so the original story was fresh in my mind. I really enjoyed your parody and laughed out loud at parts. I really liked seeing Anne as a strong character who didn’t let what other people thought of her hold her back from accomplishing her goals. A good lesson to keep in mind for the new year!
Hey Tobin. So glad you enjoyed Anne Elliot. As I said, I love writing parody, and I love Persuasion and Anne and Frederick.
Happy 2013!!!!!!! I am grateful for so many things, some of which are: Hubs, extended family, our 3 furkids, good books to read and Austen Authors! I have had a blast this year getting to know y’all better! (and I filled my kindle, thanks!!)
Your grandkids are precious! I am off to the Writer’s Block
Happy New Year Mary! I don’t have an e-reader but thank you for letting your fans know about the sale at Source books. I loved your parodies! I laughed out loud and smiled so many times. Persuasion is one of my favourites and making Anne a jogger was brilliant. Then loved the name Elizabeth and team came up for their ‘company’, the reference to Nike and the red cross among many others…
As to counting my blessings…everyday. I am blessed with a wonderful husband, two grown confident adult children and an adorable little grandson. I am fortunate to have good health as does my family and my mother-in-law who turns 88 this year. My two sisters, one who does sprint tri’s (her name is Anne and she is 61). Wonderful friends and finding a Austen Authors and their wonderful books! Thank you! Well I have to ‘Flash and Dash’! Loved your book ‘The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy’.
I snatched up a few deals. i love deals. thank you
my blessings are family and friends many, lots of love and health. I am very gratefuly
Elinor and Edward’s Plans for Lucy Steele sounds really intriguing
Mary, I love seeing the photos you post of your grandchildren. I remember when your granddaughter was just a little thing, like my Elizabeth. It’s almost frightening how fast they grow. That being said, I think you can guess what my blessings are: my husband and daughter, and my entire family (even the ones who drive me crazy, lol!)